Plant for heating greenhouses



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E'. N. 8v' D. B. KRONINGER- PLANT PDR HEATING GREENHOUSES.

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E. N. & D. B. K-RONINGER. PLANT FOB. HEATING GRBBNHOUSBS.

No. 564,756. Patented July 28, 1896.

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E. N. 8v D. B. KRONINGBR. PLANT FDR HEATING GREBNHOUSES. No. 564,756. l Patented July 28, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENTY OFFICE.

EDVARD N. KRONINGER AND DANIEL B. KRONINGER, OF ALLENTOIVN,

PENNSYLVANIA.

PLANT FOR HEATING GREENHOUSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,756, dated July 28, 1896.

Application filed October 3, 1895. Serial No. 564,539. (No model.)

To all whom, it 71u03/ concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD N. KRON- INGER and DANIEL B. KRONINGER, citizens of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of ALehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Plant for Heating Greenhouses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heating apparatus designed most especially for tempering the atmosphere of greenhouses, and with slight modifications can be adapted for dwellings, buildings, and other structures, and has for its object to utilize and distribute the heat to the best possible advantage and prevent any wasting thereof, thereby economizing in the consumption of fuel and avoiding the necessity for forcing the furnace under normal conditions. Y

The plant or heating system embodies in its organization a bank of heating-pipes subdividedinto sections, distributing or radiating pipes connected with the respective sections of heating-pipes, return-pipes likewise in communication with the said sections of heating-pipes and formingin effect a continuation of the heat distributing or radiating pipes, an expansion-chamber connected with the heat distributing or radiating pipes and with the return-pipes, manifolds intermediate of the expansion-chamber and the pipes connected therewith, a feed-pipe, and a manifold connecting the feed-pipe with the re-A spective return-pipes, the parts being arranged and operating substantially in the manner as will more fully appear hereinafter.

The many obj ects and advantages resultant from the peculiar construction of the plant will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and to this end the improvement consists, essentially, of the novel features of construction and combinations of part-s, substantially as herein illustrated, described, and most especially noted in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated au embodiment of the invention, although slight changes in the details and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in said drawings- Figure l is a longitudinal section showing the invention applied to a greenhouse. Fig. 2is a transverse section of the boiler about on the line XX of Fig. l, on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the manifold having the feed-pipe connected therewith, and which is in communication with the return-pipes. Fig. 4c is a detail perspective view showing the manifolds, which are in communication with the expansionchamber and with the heat distributing and return pipes.

The lsame reference-numerals denote like and corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings, and in the latter l indicates a greenhouse of ordinary construction, showing the plant or system applied thereto, and

2 is the boiler, conveniently located and preftions 3, and which are inclosed by masonry in the usual manner, the latter being formed at one end with a fire-box 4 and an ash-pit 5 in any desired manner to attain the end, which is to thoroughly and effectually heat the aforesaid bank of pipes. There will be as many groups or sections Sas desired and according to the capacity and size of the boiler, and each group or section will comprise a series of pipes which are disposed in parallelism and which are connected in pairs at opposite ends by return-bends common in the art of constructing radiators. In order to attain the best possible results, the groups or sections of heating-pipes are disposed in parallelism and in a progressive series reckoning from a horizontal plane, the middle groups or sections being the highest and the outer groups or sections the lowest, and the positions of the intermediate groups or sections gradually falling away from the middle point toward the sides, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The upper and the lower heatingpipes of each group or section are extended and connect, respectively, with a distributing or radiating pipe 6 and a return-pipe 7.

The heat distributing or radiating pipes 6 extend .within the greenhouse either above, below, or to one side of the benches, or may IOO occupy any desired position, so as to distribute the heat to the best advantage. A manifold S is vconnected with each distributing or radiating pipe 6 by means of small pipes 9, each being provided with a valve 10, so as to disconnect any one of the pipes 6 from the manifold in the event of the said pipe leaking or requiring to be repaired. This manifold S is connected by means of a pipe 11 with an expansion-chamber l2, located at the highest point of the system, and which contains a supply of Water to prevent the exhausting of the pipes 6, and this expansion-chamber is supplied with a safety-valve 13 to relieve the plant of any abnormal pressure.

The return-pipes 7, one being provided for each distributing or radiating pipe 6, are connected with the latter and are located in a relatively lower plane, and are designed to return the water to the boiler, to be again heated and circulated through the system of pipes. The several pipes 6 and? slant toward the boiler, so as to secure the best possible results and insure a thorough and positive circulation of the Water. A manifold 14, similar in construction to the manifold 8, is connected by a pipe 15 with the expansionchamber 12 and by small pipes 16 with the several return-pipes 7, each of the small pipes 16 having a valve 17 to admit of any pipe 7 being cut off from the manifold for purposes of repair or when desired.

A manifold 1S has the feed-pipe 19 connected therewith and has communication with the respective return-pipes 7 by small pipes 20, which latter are supplied with valves 21 to admit of any return-pipe being cut off from the manifold 1S for any desired purpose. The feed-pipe 19 communicates with any suitable source of Water supply, and has a valve 22 to cut off the supply after the plant or system receives a proper supply of Water for the effective and efiicient operation of the apparatus.

The operation of the plant is as follows The several pipes and manifolds being supplied with water and the expansion-chamber 12 being properly filled, and all the valves eX- cept 22 being open, and the fire being started in the lire-box, the water in the groups or sections of heating-pipes 3 will be heated and will flow to the distributing or radiating pipes G, and the cool Water from the return-pipes 7 will flow into the heating-pipes and in turn be heated, thereby establishing a circulation of water which will be continued so long as the fire is maintained in the fire-box and so long as the plant is in Working operation. The chamber 12 allows for the expansion of the water incident t-o the heating thereof, and also contains a sufficient quantity of water to maintain the pipes in prime condition for performing efcient Work.

The arrangement of the pipes 6 and 7 is immaterial to the successful operation of the invention and will depend largely upon the nature of the Work and the caprice of the manufacturer, but in the disposition of the pipes it is essential that the return-pipes occupy a relatively lower plane than the heat distribut-` ing or radiating pipes with which they are connected, thereby insuring a circulation of the water. It is also imperative that the expansion-chamber be located above the topmost distributing or radiating pipe, so as to maintain the pipes in normal condition and prevent the water-receding therefrom. The boiler maybe located Within or exterior to the greenhouse, as may be found most convenient, and one boiler may be arranged to heat one or a series of greenhouses, as may be required.

When the boiler is of considerable length, pillars 23 will be provided to support the bank of heating-pipes, and these pillars have steps 24, upon which rest the sections or groups of pipes. The pipes of each group or section are held in vertical relation by means of inver-ted U-bands 23, having their side members secured together by bolts 26, the lower ends of the bands resting upon the steps 24. The arch 27 is near the topmost heating-pipes to retain the heat in close contact therewith, By this arrangement of the parts the heat is utilized to the best advantage. Hence less coal is required to heat a given space as compared with heaters of ordinary construction. The furnace will need cleaning from time to time, and to enable access being had thereto doors 28 are provided in the side of the masonry between the pillars 23. These doors may be formed in any of the usual ways. In case the pipes are differently located in the greenhouse, so that it is not practical to employ a manifold for connecting the radiating and return pipes, the latter maybe connected in any convenient and approved manner to secure the desired end.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. ln a system or plant for heating greenhouses or other structures, the combination of a boiler comprising a sectional bank of heating-pipes, a series of heat distributing or radiating pipes having individual connection with the respective boiler-sections, a corresponding series of return-pipes having connection at their rear ends with the respective heat-distributing pipes and with the aforesaid corresponding boiler-sections, an elevated eX- pansion-chamber, a manifold having connection with the rear ends of the heat-distributing pipes and with the expansion-chamber, and a second manifold arranged in a lower plane than the first-mentioned manifold and Vhaving connection with the expansion-chamber and with the receiving ends of the returnpipes, substantially as shown for the purpose described.

2. The herein shown and described plant for heating greenhouses and other structures, comprising a boiler, a sectional bank of heating-pipes disposed within the boiler in a progressive declining series from a middle IIO a feed-pipe having communication With the said manifold, an elevated expansion-chamber, a manifold 8 having valved connection with the rear ends of the respective heat-distributin g pipes and with the expansion-chamber, and a manifold 14c having valved connection with the rear ends of the return-pipes 15 and with the said expansion-chamber, substantially as shown for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD N. KRONINGER. DANIEL B. KRONINGER.

W'itnesses:

EDWARD RUHE, REUBEN J. RUTs. 

